Tech entrepreneur Kellen Francis grew up in St. Charles Parish near oil refineries and petrochemical plants, far from the multibillion dollar world of venture capital in Silicon Valley, Austin or other technology hubs.

So, in 2017, when he launched Codegig, a software and AI company that helps industrial facilities and others streamline operations, manage data and improve safety, he didn't go looking for a big check to get off the ground. Instead, the Southeastern Louisiana University IT management grad took things step by step, expanding steadily to 10 employees as he took on more customers and grew his sales.

That all changed last year when he received a $400,000 investment from Innovation Catalyst, a Baton Rouge-based nonprofit venture capital fund, that helped him expand his business

See Full Page